Definition and Examples of Literary Terms

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Proverb

Definition of Proverb

Proverb is a brief, simple and popular saying, or a phrase that gives advice and effectively embodies a commonplace truth based on practical experience or common sense. A proverb may have an allegorical message behind its odd appearance. The reason of popularity is due to its usage in spoken language as well as in the folk literature. Some authors twist and bend proverbs and create anti-proverbs to add literary effects to their works. However, in poetry, poets use proverbs strategically by employing some parts of them in poems’ titles such as Lord Kennet has written a poem, A Bird in the Bush, which is a popular proverb. Some poems contain multiple proverbs like Paul Muldoon’s poem Symposium.

Use of Popular Proverbs in Everyday Speech

Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

All that glitters is not gold.

An army of sheep led by a lion would defeat an army of lions led by a sheep.

The old horse in the stable still yearns to run

Examples of Proverbs from Literature

Example 1

From Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart:

“If a child washes his hands he could eat with kings.”

If you remove the dirt of your ancestors, you can have a better future. Everyone can build his/her own fame.

“A toad does not run in the daytime for nothing.”

Everything happens for a reason and for something not for nothingness.

“A child’s fingers are not scalded by a piece of hot yam which its mother puts into its palm.”

Example 3

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (1:7)

Wise men always fear the Lord, while fools do not like wisdom and guidance.

“Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (30:5)

Saying of the God are never flawed, He protect them who ask for His help and follows His path.

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” (16:3)

Do your efforts then put faith in Lord for the results, for He knows better and give you reward accordingly.

Example 4

From Graham Greene’s The Power and the Glory

“And when we love our sin then we are damned indeed.”

When do not repent our sins and instead loving them, and then we are damned.

“Nothing in life was as ugly as death.”

Death is the most horrible experience in life.

“There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in…We should be thankful we cannot see the horrors and degradations lying around our childhood, in cupboards and bookshelves, everywhere.”

Childhood is a blessing for us, as we do not face horrible experiences like humiliation and degradation from people.

Example 5

From Aesop Fables by Aesop:

We should make sure that our own house is in order before we give advice to others. (Fortune Teller)

We should act upon our own words, before advising others to do the same.

Function of Proverb

Proverbs play very important roles in different types of literary works. The most important function of proverbs is to teach and educate the audience. They often contain an expert advice with a role for educating the readers on what they may face if they would do something. Hence, proverbs play a didactic role, as they play a universal role in teaching wisdom and sagacity to the common people. Since proverbs are usually metaphorical and indirect; therefore, they allow writers to express their message in a less harsh way.